Tagged: society

Many seekers are sensible to perceive the type of mental madness going on in our human society. However; when given the chance to leave all behind; they will feel trapped. There is too much at stake to “lose”.“ I have my job, my family, my possessions, my reputation…” those will weigh more than anything else. Nevertheless, that wasn’t a problem for a Buddha, a Jesus or a Mahavira among a list of others; who were passionate about their search. They had plenty to “lose,” and that was their way to gain consciousness.

Thus, in a military formation, we follow. We comply. We go with inertia. The end result is a conditioned, fearful individual unable to perceive the world outside the common boundaries set aside by the traditions and views of society.

If an intelligent being from out of space could be able to live among us for a brief time, he could observe some relevant facts which “normal” individuals are unable to perceive:

“ Humans have created “countries” ( a kind of mental limit of one group of people from another. Limits can go from language, looks or beliefs) when there are no truly physical boundaries. That artificial separation, could go on: States, cities, neighborhoods… The separation continues on until there is a small group of people living together which they call “family.” There are divisions among families as well.

This mentality of separation is used frantically to view Life. As a consequence there is violence among groups to “survive”. That violence surrounds human beings throughout their lives. It is man against man, group against group just to “get ahead.”A toned down flavor of violence is called “competition.” A human born in such environment is taught to compete. “Survival of the fittest” it is said. Humans consider themselves the most intelligent species. However, no other species harms their habitat as much as humans. Other species live in balance with each other to assure their survival. If a species becomes extinct, it is due to human policies.

Humans live in competition with each other. Even their games are about competition. They have “winners and losers.” It is hard to describe what winning is, for it is merely a moment of feeling elation for subduing all the other competitors.

Humans have created a reward system for “winners”. No one wants to be a “loser”, thus dishonesty appears as consequence for “winners” create “losers.”Humans have created a bartering system to survive in society, which is tinted with competition. Their system relies in the irrational trust of paper which is known as “money.” They exchange paper for services. Most humans will do anything to obtain those pieces of paper, which are colored with pictures of other humans from the past. That “money” has a number which means the exchange value but there is nothing valuable backing that money.Interestingly, humans have created wealth and poverty among their own groups. Paradoxically, humans struggle to put an end to poverty. They are hesitant to create more paper money to create opportunities for the poor as their system will reduce the overall value of their “currency” (paper) of that location compared with others, which will affect their production of goods and being able to sell it. It is a complicated system based on the whim of those who have lots of paper money competing with each other to preserve their power to subdue those who have less paper money with them. Everything they do in their society is about buying or selling: Buy cheap, sell expensive. Make profit. That is their beloved “mantra.”

Humans mask their violent ways with ideologies of peace and equality; however those systems clash against each other producing more conflicts. Overall, humans are a violent species, but overall they have high hopes to change some day, they believe in change …”

The above description is the weigh of conditioning from our collective consciousness. To get away from that is the easiest way to de-condition.That is why a wealthy, powerful man cannot self-realize and so those who are invested in their professions for unwillingly, these individuals help preserve the collective conditioning.

Without peeling that layer, there is no true passion in a seeker who seeks the “truth” of self knowledge. That is one of the “filters” in the path.

While out of the system, a seeker has the time to observe unaffected. What would you do with your time if work, entertainment, friends and relatives are out of your life?How is consciousness able to change if we are always “busy”?

With time, we could sit in a park, contemplate that setting and smell the roses. We could truly look at Life and observe the “rat race” happening. We could learn to enjoy our own company. We could learn to appreciate the simple things in Life: Cooking your meals, sweeping your place. Learning to play a musical instrument. Becoming AWARE of what is like to live without trying to accomplish, compete, achieve and getting the approval of the masses for name and fame.

Many will think: “That is boring”. But then, those are the ones who sooner or later will look for “peace.”Perhaps when they “retire”…. RIP.

Like this:

Life is unexpected, dynamic, ever changing. Our society taught us to behave and meet situations with a recipe or pre-cooked package of actions, moral standards and laws.

We believe that a particular action labeled as “moral” is useful for all situations. That is not so. When our moralists realize that, then we try to create another recipe that will fit all. As a consequence, many discusions will arise leading nowhere.

As we go beyond conditionings, we will find that Life is only met fully in the moment.Experiences are personal and could be used as personal guidelines but never as commandments or laws which can apply to all.This realization will take away our neediness to be “right,” or to give free advice to others.

One thing is to say “in my experience…” another to say “my advice to you is…”

My favorite cup is made of blue glass. If I was that cup, I will see things “blue.” (reminds me of the “blue song.”) Through that center of personal experiences all I could feel comfortable with is that which I recognize: Perhaps another cup made of glass. I will not be able to distinguish colors as all I see is blue.It will be a mistake to believe that everything is of blue color. In fact, I wouldn’t know colors at all. I wouldn’t understand what a color is, for I will need to experience contrasts to see that.

Most individuals in the world are trapped in their sense of self and their self centered perception, their own experiences which would like to label as “truth,” “right,” and all of those words which will make us feel “better and above.”

We could choose to meet Life intellectually. We could choose to follow a determined philosophy or belief but in doing so, we are creating a particular cup of a particular color. Life is much greater than that.

As I observe my kitchen, living room, bedroom, house, neighboorhood, city, country, continent, etc… I could observe that there is no end. Everything is so different, unknown, mysterious and yet “I” pretend to know it all… “I” pretend to be “right.”I am just a cup of glass with extraordinary value as I am unique, but just like everything else. We tend to value things through their utility, but that is another conditioning. If it IS, it has the right to BE. That is value.

I heard the saying “Ignorance is bliss.” I understand the meaning of that; but also that “knowledge” is truly a kind of ignorance.Blissful, if we don’t take it so seriously as the “only truth;” however, miserable if we completely believe in it.There is no knowledge able to contain Life.

Like this:

A time will come when we want to DO things “right.”
However, what is our standard for that? Our conditioning of what “right” should be.
It is from there how we envision “spirituality”: A God that should act in the “right way.” A “Paradise” where right-full people should go to enjoy Life forever, since they were busy suffering the mishaps caused by “others,” who in turn, will pay their dues in “hell.”

Our idea of “justice” is framed within those parameters: Give to A the same amount as to B. That is our concept of equality.From there, a family will automatically implement those “values.”Education then, becomes nothing but training to implement these ideals in the minds of children. We call that to do the “right thing.” Those “unfortunate” who are away from the system, are uneducated, handicapped children who are not in the same condition to “compete” with others in “Life.”

We could inquire into the “fairness” of competition. Then, we will find 2 contradictory “values,” justice vs. competition.Contradictory “values” are the signature of our society. Thus, be smart. Use those as convenient. That is to be politically correct, right. Right? 🙂

Therefore, any spiritual teaching in alignment with values of society, are only preserving mainstream understanding. Those teachings could be helpful for some to fit with society’s values; but rest assured; that these teachings are not a reflection of the reality of Life. They only reflect our society.

The first thing to understand is that Life is not only what happens between 8 to 5 at work. It is not what happens on TV. It is not what happens in the family.Life is more than that. To grasp Life we will need to go beyond our need to preserve that who we think we ARE. Our identification with that, will not allow us to move into the changing waves of Life.

Who we THINK we ARE, is not who WE ARE.What others label us, is not who we are.Let it BE undefined, without a conceptual idea.

Society is not prepared for that, but that is the starting point for deconditioning, otherwise; we become successfully trained with these teachings.

What are those teachings?In a word: FEAR.The future is more valuable than “now.”Fear of punishment here and the afterlife.Fear of the unknown. Death is perceived as something to avoid.There are “good” and “bad” individuals. They could be easily recognized as if they were wearing a particular t-shirt color. Thus, we fear labels.If you are not like us, you are against us.If it cannot be controlled or regulated, it is “bad.” Sex comes to mind.Pretty words and politicians will save the World.Technology and math are the key for happiness.

Those values are heavily imprinted. This perception becomes our trauma in Life.How could we be able to OBSERVE something different when we have that ingrained in our core?That is the first question to resolve (for an intelligent seeker.)Freedom from the known, is at the end of the street.

Like this:

Living in society will bring us some sort of perceived security. A sense of purpose through having a laid out path to complete. We believe that our laws, moral values and “virtuous” living are compatible with higher order.We believe in working hard to achieve whatever our minds tell us. That is whatever we believe. We live in the world of beliefs. Just achieve. Compete with others if they are in your way. Show them who the best is!Look out for you and then for the extension of you, your family. “Help” others when yours are OK and have plenty, enough to “give” what is not needed.Most of all, remain busy. Do things for an objective, a goal. Go to school, then college, get married, have kids, get a house, a car, a couple of pets. Get busy! Save for retirement, then you can ‘relax.’ Most of all… “Be happy!!”

We only understand “get happiness.” Something out there will give me that. I have to keep trying.

In a nutshell, that is the brainwash. The castle built out of “pretty” words. The belief that happiness is to comply with the conditioning.

Likewise, our “spirituality” will be based on that brainwash. There is the goal to achieve: Heaven, god, eternal salvation… Plenty of objectives.There is the “family” of the “chosen ones.” You are part of it, if you just believe. There is plenty of help to give to others to “save them.” That “good action” will get you brownie points with the “Father,” the creator: God. Then you can ‘relax’ for eternity. Here in society, you work hard to get something for yourself. Over there, for the “spiritual” world, you do the same. We cannot ‘relax’ until we work hard first, right? Isn’t it that “as it is above, it is below”? That phrase is used out of context. As we wake up, we will realize.

Awakening cannot be for everyone. There are many who rather live in the land of “make believe.”Awakening is not an easy process. It is not a walk in the park.It hurts, it disappoints, it hits you against the wall until “you” die. Once you are dead, then you are alive. Logical isn’t it? But it is no longer “you.”When we are used to eating only chocolate in Life and we feel safe, how are we going to try another flavor? Only when Life offers us vanilla and not chocolate. That is a change of consciousness. Chocolate goes away and our fear to starve gets in the way. Our attachment to the known will not allow us to try something different. When we taste vanilla, we “know.” We become satisfied to taste another flavor and can appreciate chocolate from another perspective, another consciousness.Awakening is like that. However for most, awakening is only about “understanding” the flavor of vanilla and reading plenty about it, getting certified in vanilla, but never had the opportunity to taste.When we are ready to leave chocolate, vanilla will come and then chocolate will be gone, and we will “know” that there are many flavors in Life, many ways of looking at Life, many ways of living Life. Otherwise, we believe that Life is only chocolate!

Consciousness is not depending on us and our efforts to “achieve,” as society has conditioned us. So ‘relax.’ Consciousness is our link with Life itself. It happens. Just like Life itself. It happens. All we have to “do” is become AWARE of it.

Like this:

Are you working on achieving peace of mind? Do you want to get rid of your vices to achieve something like heaven? The above is only a continuation of the views of our “modern” society. Most individuals are framed in that. Through that tunnel, they can only see achievements, self-imposed changes to fit some ideal. Our society works that way, but Life does not. Peace of mind is only a concept. For those who “know,” peace is in no-mind. That is not an achievement. That experience cannot be defined. Life does not fit our language, but our language fits the general perceptions of the collective consciousness.

Do you like to swim? Then swim. Enjoy that activity. But for our society that is not enough. Just to swim is “boring.” We need to improve ourselves. Get faster. Prove that we are capable of beating the “competition.” Then, we get a medal. Recognition as an appreciation for being a loyal supporter of the brainwashing. It is hard to say ‘No’ to that mindset, for financial gain is involved and for many, money is Life. That is their “spirituality.” However, this is not a matter of saying “yes” or “no” to that conditioning, or fighting against the “injustice” and the “control.” No! It is a matter of being AWARE of the conditioning so it will never affect us whether we go with it or not. For we get affected, traumatized if we don’t “succeed,” if Life does not bring us closer to the ideal of what “should be,” of what the movie or the TV sells as “happiness,” or the “happy family.”

Want to go to heaven? Every religion selling that concept has a path. No one could ever check the validity of it, but it is good to give it a try so others can see “my improvement.” At least, “I” should leave a favorable impression, for “I” can’t ever BE the ideal. The ideal is unreachable but that becomes the “challenge,” a source of entertainment to pass our time. The rat race of achieving objectives, labels or degrees has perceived benefits in our society; but that doesn’t mean that “spirituality” is based on the same premises. In Life, you are not a “master” if you have certifications, degrees or if you have studied many years with another “master.” You may have lots of information but consciousness … may not be there. Without that, we ARE NOT.

What is to be spiritual? To live Life in harmony. It has nothing to do with a belief in higher or lower beings or a belief in Science to help the World. It has nothing to do with “practicing” predetermined actions and call those “good.” Harmony has no definitions. We cannot “achieve” harmony for there is no method or practice to get to that. Harmony is like moving with the tune that Life is playing. That tune is only for those who can hear it. But there are other tunes playing at the same time. A tune doesn’t last our whole Life. That tune will change right when the next song arrives. If we are AWARE, we will change our dancing moves, our tempo, our cadence, our rhythm at the right time. No one could ever put in words “how to move,” buy yet many religions, spiritual movements, philosophies, etc. pretend to know the “steps” to take, as if they could predict the next song.

Nothing “spiritual” could ever be learned in books, classes or retreats. However, those have value as entertainment, to socialize, to accumulate information, concepts and ideas, to make us believe that we are “better” because we “understand” a concept. Entertainment is “good.” With all of those conditionings in our minds, we cannot know what is no-mind. Without no-mind there is no empty space for peace. Without the experience of peace, there cannot be harmony. So where do we start? Unlearning what we have learned. So when do we start? When we are feed up with “Life.” That is… society.

Like this:

The collective consciousness labels and segments experiences: Good, bad, right, wrong. It is all relative to a perspective, a conditioning, a moral standard. But, the individual experience can only show a limited range. What is a “bad” experience? The passage to a “good” one. Isn’t “right” born out of what is “wrong”?

Cause and effect are together. All experiences in a person’s life are necessary together. Life is a “togetherness,” although our mind insists in viewing parts and labeling them. A wall clock is a togetherness. We label 11 AM as “good or bad.” But time never stays fixed; but our labels do.

Sexuality practically, is a range of an experience. Every individual has a particular experience within that range. The fixation is in achieving some ideal of what “should be.”

“Reality” is that as humans, we ARE not the same…. But we ARE. Language doesn’t allow for that illogical contradiction, but Life is oblivious of our logical constructs. Truly, Life is far from our intellectual understanding, the shoe box.

When we dare to look outside of the shoe box, we will observe that nothing is confined into a container. We make that trick. The trick works because everyone is conditioned to believe in it.

Watch TV for too long and you will start believing that that world is “real.” It is a dreamy world where the reality of our feelings is confined for the sake of being “right” according to some moral gospel, another shoe box.

Shoes are not meant to be inside shoe boxes. We believe they should be.

Life does not have a purpose other than Life itself. The purpose of what IS… is to BE. BEING is the most basic and ultimate purpose at the same time. In the human world, a purpose is something different than what IS. It is an ideal of what “should be.” Life does not bring any sort of learned ideas, ideals and moral values that human beings believe in. Because those things are needed in a society, it does not mean that those are needed in Life. Most human created Gods are supporters of societies’values but not of Life. Most humans believe that Life is perceived with their 5 senses. That is a self-imposed restriction to know Life.

Humans want to control Life, however; one lesson to learn in Life is that Life cannot be controlled. Humans have created their own little society with their own little rules and standards, inventing the words “right and wrong.” Humans have invented so many labels such as “property,” “equality,” “control” and “spirituality,” (to name a few amazing inventions) which are only learned perceptions which humans have labeled as “real Life.”

For most humans, “Real Life” is to comply with conditioning. “Spirituality” has evolved as a way to control, the self and others. To be “better” is a new way to control.

When a society lives in the mind, fulfillment is only another idea. A topic to discuss. Something to “improve” by bringing laws, methods and procedures.

When a person lives in the mind, self-knowledge is out of his experience.

Our little human man-made world, away from Life itself, separated from the harmony of Nature, is alienating us! Our reliance in the mind is killing what makes us alive, that is our feelings. Honesty of acknowledging who we ARE now, is replaced by the ideal of what we “should be.” With that teaching, there is no way to “know thyself.”

In Life, learning is to experience. It is not to read and understand what someone wrote. In life, to “Do more things” does not equal to feeling fulfilled. In life, to “get ahead” with degrees, titles, certifications, diplomas, etc. is completely meaningless. Those things are only part of a small game, the “office world.” That game has become our daily “bread and butter” to the point that we believe that meal, to be the only one.

What is the outcome? We are starved and tired of the same thing. We are looking for meaning in Life!

Do we want “answers”? Do we want “solutions”? Do we want to be “saved”? Yes? Thus, the “market” screamed for religions to appear. The answer is in the future, by following some policy, some behavior. Politicians took note of that. All we had to DO is to BELIEVE in another “reality.” Something that few perceived to be “true.” Those became the “saviors.”

Tired of that? Then try to BE what you ARE not. Pretend. Practice. Achieve that.

Can we peel the layers of conditioning and learned behaviors from ourselves? Peel the onion. What you find is not “what is,” but rather what needs to be peeled. Who is peeling? A layer of the onion that we call “me.” With that discovery, Life could have a different meaning. What is that meaning? Peel the onion yourself to find out. In Life, we need to “reinvent the wheel” not to come up with a shortcut. “Time is money” is meaningless in Life. Your time is your Life.